Julie Rains's blog

How to Give Thoughtful Gifts on a Scrooge-Like Budget

If you have a lot of gifts to give during the holidays, it can be tough enough to give personal gifts, let alone stay on budget. Use these tips to do both.

How to Be Less of a Grump at Work

If your work life has transformed you into the office grump, take steps to change how you work. You'll improve your outlook and perhaps your bottom line.

Lessons In Leadership From Andy Bernard Of The Office

If a timid bumbler like The Office's Andy Bernard can lead a team to success, then surely anyone can.

Quick, Easy, and Festive Cream Cheese Appetizers

Whether you want something salty or sweet, for ultra-quick, delicious appetizers, try one of these 16 no-bake cream cheese ideas.

How To Claim Your Online Identity and Keep It Relevant

Online services such as Google Places and Yelp include details about your business whether you ask them to or not. Here's how to claim those listings as your own.

Sweetening the Deal on Small Business Saturday

On Small Business Saturday, American Express offers small businesses a chance to boost sales. Some small businesses are boosting that opportunity with promotions of their own.

25 Ways to Communicate Better Today

Getting your point across (and understanding the points that others are making) is one of the most important skills you can master. Learn how to do it better.

4 Genuine Ways To Execute The Brand Promise

It's not enough to develop a brand promise. To be successful, your company has to live up to it.

Great Ways to Improve Your Resume Today

If you're applying for jobs, these quick and easy resume changes could make a big difference in whether or not you land an interview.

Making Your Web Presence Both Local and Global

Think globally, act locally. Or is it think locally, act globally? With some planning, both can be true for your online identity.

Customer Service Mistakes You’ll Never Recover From

Gaining customers is hard work. Make sure you aren't losing them through preventable customer service blunders.

9 Reasons People Don't Do What They Are Supposed to Do

Managing staff is rarely easy. Here are 9 distressing employee-management situations, and what you can do to correct them.

5 Reasons Your Customers Aren't Using Your Website

Make it easy for your customers to get what they want from your website or your competitors will.

How to Collaborate with Competitors and Win

If you want your business to grow, help your competitors' business grow, too.

How to Get Great Job References

A glowing recommendation can make the difference in whether or not you get a job. Learn how to ask for great references so you can land the gig.

How to Take the Pulse of Your Employees

Do you know what your employees REALLY think about you and your business?

How to Learn From Your Mistakes

To move forward in life, you must learn from your mistakes. Find out how to cut through ego, stop simply persevering, and start getting things right.

3 Undervalued Employee Virtues

Honesty is a virtue. So are inventiveness, integrated thinking, and occasional imprudence. Learn how to identify and motivate these key employee virtues.

How to Ditch the Informational Meeting

Meetings, especially informational or status update meetings, can be a real drag on productivity. Learn how to make them action-oriented, instead.

4 Ways Energetic Employees Electrify the Workplace

If you're lucky enough to find -- and hire -- high energy employees, you and your team will get more done, and have more fun doing it.